Castle Coole has been designated an ASSI because of its parkland habitat and associated species. Historic parklands are generally characterised by old, open-grown trees and shrubs which have significant amounts of standing and fallen dead wood. These old open-grown trees provide a specialist habitat for rare and uncommon invertebrates, lichens and fungi.
Oak is the dominant parkland tree species with Beech, Horse-chestnut, Ash, Hawthorn and Sycamore. There are occasional specimens of species such as Walnut and London Plane. There are also some spectacular avenues of trees including an avenue of Oak along the main entrance.
Further diversity is provided through marginal vegetation fringing Lough Coole with species such as Common Reed and Water Horsetail. In places, this grades into areas of wet grassland with species such as Crested Dog’s-tail, Sweet Vernal-grass, Quaking-grass, Carnation Sedge, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Meadow Vetchling and Meadowsweet.
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